Lock.



flaw MA (swarm-4&4; 1

E. A CHRISTOPH.

LOCK. APPLICATION mo on. 1?. 191a.

' Patented N03. 14, 1916.

jects the production of a deviceof the kind ED STATES m e r EMIL A. CHRISTOPH, or CHICAGO, ILLINOISQASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE KING LOCK, COMPANY,

PQRATION OF ILLINOIS.

To all it'll-07H. it may concern Be it known that I, EMIL A. Ciiins'rorn, a citizen of the United States, residing, at

ClilCh O. iii the countof Cook and State v of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks, ofwliich the following is a description.

My invention belongs to that general class of devices known as locks and relates particularlyto a key'controlled or key actuated locking device of the kind described. 7

The invention has among its objects the and the. lock parts then constructed to fit these keys, as herein described. so that only the key for which the lock is made will unlock that particular lock.

The invcntioi'ihas among its objects the production of a device in which there is practically no limit to the possible varia tions or number of different keys. so that only oneparticular lock can lie opened by the one set ot' keys. except. of course. in the case here more than one lock is made to titthe same key.

The invention has aniongits tu'rther ohdescribed that is simple, compact, convenient. durable, efficient. and satisfactory. that may be economically manufactured. that may be used wherever found applicable, and modified in its non-essential details to make it applicable for different types or styles of locks.

Tothis end my invention consists in'tlie novel construction, arrangement and coinhination of parts herein shown and described. and more particularly pointed out in the claims. I

In the drawings. wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts. Figure 1 is a sectional view of a de- 7 rice taken substantially on line 1, 1 of Fig. I 4: Fig.2 isa view of the key shown'in Fig. 1. re 'iresenting one form of key; Fig. 3 is a similar view oi theoppositeside. repre senting one design for that side; Fig. lis

substantially asc tional view"takenonline l, -l of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view of the locking LOCK.

Specification of Letters lPatent.

or CHICAGO. ILLINOIS; AooR- 1 Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

Application filed October 17,1913. Serial No. 795,362.

mechanism shown in F ig. l, with the key removed from the lock; Fig. (i is aside elevation of a portion of a lock with a key inserted, showing the same before the plates have been fitted to the key and cooperating parts .of the lock; Fig. 7 issubstantially a sectional view on line 7, h

is a perspective view of one form of plate; Fig. 9 is a similar view of another form; Fig. 10 is a similar view of still another form; Fig. 11 is substantially a'sectional view of thekey taken on line 11, 11 of Fig.

l ot'FigfG; Fig. 8

3; Fig; '12 is a front view of the centering I lated taccs. forming substantially a'plurality ofwliat might he termed cam faces, or series of cam faces. The key shown has an irregular or undulated top face 2, and with a preferably parallel face 3 (see Fig. 11) It is also provided with a suitably formed groove -lupon one side, liavingparallel sides 5 and (Land on the opposite side is providcd a bead 7. having longitudinal. parallel: faces 8 and 5). It may he mentioned at this time that the groove and head may be extended along the key in any desired manner. and they need not extend parallel with each otheiznor parallel with the top face 2;

in fact they preferably do not so extend. A.

lurality of plates. each having a suitable aperture theretlirough,.ai'e arranged toco operate with the key faces. In Fig. 9 the plate shown consists of aplate 1O ofpref erably thin sheet metal provided withan aperture 11 tlierethrougln the ends of which I are arranged to cooperate with the faces 2 and 3 of the key. The apertureis made of "aperture having a notch 20 on one side, and i faces 21 and/22 for cooperation with the] head 7 ot' the key. Tli'esethree forms of plate shown are, of course, merely for ill ustration, as the particular form and size of apertures through the plates, depend, of

, straight and not undulated, plate 10, in some cases, is not used.

The plates are arranged face to face in any desired order, except, however, the beads 16 are all at one side, andthe notches 20 at the other side, and the parts positioned in what may be termed a plate retaining member 23. The retainingmember' 23 is preferably cylindrical in form, and is provided with an opening or slot 25 therethrough, as most clearly shown in Figs 4 and 7. It will be noted by referring particularly to Figs. 1, 4 and 7, that the slot 25 is unobstructed and extends entirely through the member from approximately one end toward the other end, and is connected by a suitable opening with the front of the lock.

At the front end is provided a centering plate 35, formed substantially as shownin Fig. 12, but in which the opening depends upon the key used. The extreme end of the key is arranged to center in the end of part 23,115 indicated at 36 in Fig. 1. The member 23 is formed with an extended part 24, and' arranged Within a cooperating lock or casing part 26, as will be hereafter described.

Before being fitted to the lock the plates described are substantially as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Referring to these two figures, it will be noted that the plates are longer than the diameter of the part 23, so that they project beyond the face of the member. In fitting the lock to the key, the desired number and forms oi. plates are positioned in the slot 25 in member 23, and the key then I inserted. The key passes through all the apertures in the plates, but owing to the irregular faces cooperating with the operative faces of the plates, slides them back and forth until when the key is'in final position, the plates are substantially in the position shown in Fig-6. The key beingin place, the ends of the plate members are then suitably cut off, preferably flush with the face of the member 23, so that when the key is in, they are substantially contained within the member, as shown in Fig. 1. They may be cut off in any desired man ner, either by turning, grinding, or the like, as indicated by the dotted lines at 36 in Figs. (land 7.

The cooperating parto'f' casing 26 is provided with a cylindrical'bore of a size to shown in Fig. 4. ,The same is also grooved in Fig. 5, they or formed with recesses at2i) and 30. When the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, with the key in position, one of the parts may be moved relative to the other. as for example, part 23 maybe rotated in part 26, and this movement may be employed in any desired manner for controlling or operating the locking mechanism or latch .bolt.

The member may be secured in place in the casing 26 in any desired manner. In the drawings I have shown a plate 28, to which the extended part27, or casing 26, is secured, and the end 24 of the part 23 is shown provided with a finger 33, which is adapted to engage a lock or latch part3l,

or the equivalent. When the key 1 is withdrawn, the several plates inthe slot 25, ac-

tuated by the different key faces,=slide back disturbs them) so that they engage with the part 26 .in the recesses or grooves 29 and 30. Their weight maybe sullicient to cause them to drop down and engage in only one opening, as in the opening 29, depending, of course, on the manner of installation of the lock. However, if any do remain as left by the key, as for example as shown 30 and lock the member 23 against action. \Vhen the key is again inserted, they slide back and 'fortlnjn the slot,depending, of course, upon the contour of; the key and will engage in the groove plates employed, until the key reaches its final position, at which point all of the members are alined at their ends, as indicated in Figs. *1 and 4, and are flush and conform to the contour of the member 23. This permits member 23 to be moved or rotated, permitting the latch to be turned,

or'positivel turning it, depending upon the lock upon which employed. In inserting or withdrawing the keys, the movement of.

each plate is determined ,by the kind of plate used, and the particularform. of key. It may benoted that with the type of key shown, plates all similar to 15, or all similar to 10, or all similar to 19, as the case may be, may be employed, or the same may be mixed, that is,'varied in arrangement in any desired manner. Vhen a lock is constructed in this manner, in order to bring all the plates in alinement, some must be moved in one direction and maintained in a particular position, and somemoved'in the opposite direction, and maintained there. depending upon the key employed. Very slight variations in the keys, owing to the requirednicety of alinementof the plates, affords many different looks.

In Figs. 13, 14 and 15 several other forms of keys are shown. In Fig. 13, key 38 is substantirdly wedge-shaped; in Fig. 14 the same is further modifiedincontour, and is shown provided with two grooves, each one of which may be employed to c n1trola different series of plates; and in Fig. 15, the.

key 40 is similarly formed, so as to control more than one .series at each side ofthe key.

ment. The key shown in'Fig, 17 illustrates a tapered form of key, also a tapered head on one side. It is not considered necessary to showthe plates that may be employed with these keys, as this will be obvious from the preceding. It might be mentioned that if the plates 15, shown in T Fig. 10, were formed with beads 16 of different lengths,-

this series of plates will be substantially sub,-

divided into a sub-series, all of which will be controlled by the same head on the key,

or a, the same cam faces, The same is true with the plate 19, shown inFig. 8, ex-l v cept, of course, the width of. the aperture bling a lock, the plates may be mixed as may will be increased in a portion of the plates giving the same result. These plates, may all be stamped out in quantity, each having'the desired contour of aperture, and in assemhappen, without any particular order orsystem, placed in the slot, the desired key inserted, and then all of the plates turned down. This obviatcsthe expensive milling of an intricate key barrel, or. plate retainer.

Owing to the considerable number of parts which must be fitted and alined to release the lock, it may be safely said that the lock is practically unpickable, and likewise it is an extremely diificult task to fit a key to the lock bar unless every plate is alined or brought flush with the'retaining part, so as to clear the cooperating part of the lock, the retaining part being non-turnable. As a matter of factit is an exceedingly diflicultpifnot impossible task, to rearrange the plates in their proper positions in the retaining member if they are removed and intermixed, as endless combinations may be made in which the key would not aline all the plates to release the look. For this reason it is desirable and economical when additional keys are required,'or when all the keys have been 5 lost, to remove the retaining member and plates entirely and fit a new. cylinder, keys and plates to the lock.

From the preceding description it will be seen that, in the construction shown, the lock comprises aplura'lity of parts, one movable relative the other, as for'example, the barrel rotatable within the casing, one part of 1 which is provided with a plurality of plates arranged to be contained therein, as tor exvditl'erent series, or that is, the

further divided into sub-series,

shown and described, or uses mentioned.

thereof, a

ample, in the barrel, or to extend therefrom and engage. the other part, which in the construction shown, is the casing. It will also be noted that the platesare substantially in lock is made upof a plurality of series of different plates. as, for example, the plates 19 may be considered one series, plates 10 a series, and plates 15 another series, which series may he etc., the se ries to be employed depending upon the kind of key; also that the several series are independent from any other series, and the plates in any series are entirely independent from any other plates in that series, there being any desired number of plates in a series, any desired number of series, and with the plates assembled in any desired arrangement in the lock. Thev key may likewise be said to be made up with a plurality of se- 5 pendently controlling its respective series,

or sub-series, irrespective of any other series.

- Having thus described my invention, itis 'ObVlOllS that varlous immaterial modifications may be made in the same without de- 9.5 parting from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself tothe exact form, construction, arrangement or combination of parts herein What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1 c

1. In a lock of the kind described and in combination, a suitable casing formed with a cylindrical hole with grooveson each side cylindrical barrel rotatably mounted in said casing, and provided with an opening through the same from end to end, a key constructed with a plurality of pairs of irregular faces, the faces of each pair parallel and allsubstantially terminatimg in a point at the end of the key,

said key longitudinally movable through the opening in said barrel, means at each end of thebarrel for centering the key when inserted therein, and means co-acting withsaid key faces for locking said barrel against rotation within the casing, comprising aplurality of series. of sheet metal plates extending through the barrel and transversely 190 movable relative thereto in the same straight I line to engage one or the other of the grooves in said casing, each plate being provided With a suitable keyway therethrough'relatively larger than the cross sectional area 135 of the key and contained within the-periphery of the plate, the apertures of the plates in eachseries similarly formed, and, each series having relatively different aper-v tures than the other series, all of said plates of each series constructed to co-act with one of the pairs of said irregular faces substantially corresponding, in contour with the aperture.

In a lock of the kind, described and in combination. a casing, member formed with a cylindrical bore extending lengthwise thercthrough. with a groove on opposite sides thereof, a cylindrical barrel closely fitting; the bore ofsaid casing, and rotatably arranged therein, said barrel having an.

opening therethrough from end to end, and

provided with a slot for a portion of its lem'th means carried b Y said member for engaging the casing at said grooves, com-.

- whereby the key and barrel may be rotated in the casing.

3. In a lock ofthe kinddescrihed and in combination, the combination of a casing formed by longitudinal grooves extending lengthwise thereof, a cylindrical barrel-rotatable in said casing and closely fitting the same, and provided with an opening extending lengthwise thereof, said barrel provided with a slot entirely therethrouglnof a width corresponding with the width of the grooves in said casing, for a portion of its length,- a plurality of metal plates of suitable length to be entirely confiiied within the barrel arranged face to face in the.

slot in the barrel, and all movable in said slot to engage one or the other of the crrooves in said casing, or to be entirely retracted within the barrel, each plate having a suitable keyway thercthrough, a key arrangedto coiiperate with the plates at their keyways, whereby the plates will be independently and irregularly moved in the slot, means for centering said key in said barrel, a lo'ck bar arranged adjacent said casing and movable transversely the cylindrical axes of said barrel, and an arm carried by said barreladjacent the front end thereof, said arm projecting through the casing and engaging said lock bar.

4. In :1 led: of the kind described and in combination, a suitable casing, a cylindrical barrel rotatably arranged therein, a plural-. ity of sheet metal plates arranged in said barrel aud' transversely movable therethrough, in the same plane to engage with the easing, each ofsaid .plates provided with a suitably formed key 'ay theretln'oiigh relatively larger than the cross'section of the key, and varying in contonrjyfrornieacli other, and a key, constructed to f engage a portion of said plates" at" thefends of the apertures therein, and engageafportion of the plates at one side of'the apertureth'erein, whereby upon insertion or withdrawal. of the key, a portion of the platesavill be moved in onedirection and another portion will be independentlymovedin a: parallel direction. 7 r x i In a lock, the combination ofasuit' able casing. a cylindri *al inn-e1 i, rotatably mounted therein, a pluralityfof:plates transg0 versely movablethrough saidbarrel,each of said plates provided with'patsuita'bly formed aperture therethrough,and a key; i provided with means; for engaging "a portion of said plates at the ends, of the apers5 tures therein, and engaging anotherportion 'ot' the platesat one side'ofthekey, and other plates at the other side ofthe key.

(3. In a lock, the combination, of asuitable casingnfa cylindrical]barrel rotatably mounted therein, a plurality of platestrans versely an 'able through 'saitbbarrel, each of said plates provided witlia",suitably formed aperture theretln-ouglr, the apertures in some plates being dissimilar tothose in other plates. and a key providedwitli mans at each side thereof for engagingthewplates, a latch bar, and means (or operatively connectiug: the same with the barrels i 7. In a lock, the combination oi a suit- I00 ahlecasing, a cylindrical barrel-rotatab1y mounted therein, a' plni'ality fofi plates transversely movable through said barrel, each of said plates provided witlra suitably" formed aperture therethrough, {and a suitably formed key, a; portion offflsaidgplates constructed to engage one sidesoffthe key, and a portion constructed 'to engage the other side of the key, with a otion-con,- structed to co-aet with the edgesfof tlie'keywl fi 8. In a key-controlled lockjof thekind, 4 described and in combination,afcasinghaving a cylindricalbore, and formedqvith; a" groove on opposite sides thereofiaimlwvitliii eiremnferential slot adjacent one e'nd,. a .cy-

lindrical tubular rotatableinembenarranged within said casing, and havingJanfnnobstructed slot extending diametricall "and" entirely therethrough for a portionlof its length, said slot corresponding inwidth to the width of'said grooves in said casing, a

' plurality of' independently slidable sheet metal plates arranged transversely insaid slot, and movable lcngthwisefltherein "to co ,frage the casing: in one or the other of said grooves, each of the plates beingof anneal not to exceed the diameter of the retaining part. and each having: a suitably iformed keyway therethrougzh, in combimttionwith' a cooperating key having parallelfaces of an irregular form in a plurality of directions, and of arsize to be inserted and forced through the apertures in the plates, whereby the plates will be engaged andmoved into alinement at their ends substantially flush with the face of the retaining member, a centering plate arranged at the hter end i of saidcylindrical member, and having a keyway therethrough, corresponding in contour, and of a size to substantially closely fit the key, a key centering part at the other end of said cylindrical part, and an arm carried by the cylindrical member and project ing through the circumferential slot in said casing, and a slidable lock bar constructed to engage said arm;

9. The combination in a key-actuated lock, of a substantially cylindrical casing offset on opposite sides and flanged at one end, said casing formed with a cylindrical bore and internally grooved on opposite sides at .gsaid offsets, and circumferentially slotted at one side, a cylindrical b'arr el'rotatably arranged within said casing and slotted throughout a portion of its length from side to side, said cylindrical part having an opening therethrough at one end, a center" ing plate arranged at the front end of said scribing witnesses, I, EMIL A.OHRISTOPH. 4

cylinder at the opening thereof, and provided with a keyu ay theretln'ough corre sponding in contour and closely fitting the key, a plurality of substantially thin sheet metal, independently slidable plates arranged within the slot in said cylindrical lock bolt actuating alnllocking arm extending thronghthe circumferential slot in said casing. and a lock bar extending transversely of the barrel, constructed to engage said arm.

'In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two sub- Witnesses:

Roy W. HILL, CHARLES I. Conn. 

